Christian Business Women Gather for Her Voice, Her Faith Conference
On Saturday, April 15, over 100 women from all over the Puget Sound and beyond gathered at Vossler Studios, a state-of-the-art film and media studio in Kirkland, Washington, for the inaugural Her Voice, Her Faith Conference hosted by ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½’s College of Business.
This was not your typical women’s conference. The gathering was created for the sole purpose of empowering and elevating Christian women in business. Anchored in Esther 4:14 and Ezekiel 37:1–14, the conference focused on the integration of faith and business and provided a unique opportunity for women to experience the presence of God while networking with one another and defining new ways to thrive in the marketplace.
Lyndsay Lamb and Leslie Davis of HGTV’s “Unsellable Houses” were the keynote speakers. Both shared how they overcame challenges and created a thriving real estate business in Snohomish County while ensuring their faith remained center stage. Other speakers, facilitators, and panelists openly shared their stories about how they are finding success as women in business.
The participants consisted of CEOs, CFOs, managers, accountants, diversity/equity/inclusion (DEI) leaders, entrepreneurs, and many other female leaders who desired to see growth in their faith and in their profession.
Jessica Cisneros, owner of the local business All Things New Cleaning Services, shared:
“I’ve been to many business conferences, and this was by far my favorite. Many times, the idea of business and prosperity doesn't mesh well with my faith. I love how God is showing me [that] His plans for me and my business do align with truth. God showed me through Her Voice, Her Faith that I need to move my business back to the foundation on Christ, on which it was created.”
Since the conference, Dr. Rowlanda Cawthon, the conference organizer and dean of the College of Business, has heard countless testimonies like Jessica’s. For instance, there were multiple people, including Michael Vossler, the founder of Vossler Studios, who said the presence of God was clearly present throughout the conference. Several other women shared feeling an overflow of the Holy Spirit days and weeks after attending this event.
Cheri Goit, a professor at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ who was in attendance, shared how it challenged her perceptions about business and faith:
“Talking with various women and hearing the stories of each speaker definitely broke stereotypes that I have regarding women in business. I appreciated hearing the various experiences of successful and powerful women [who are] integrating faith outside the walls of the church or a specific denomination.”
The impact even reached individuals who did not attend the conference themselves. Walter Russell, a husband of a conference attendee, expressed this to Dr. Cawthon:
“As I reflect on the women’s conference that you and your team put together, I am thankful for what you have done. I see the impact that it has made on my wife, sister, and friends. They are more encouraged to seek the Lord’s will for their future. They talked about the speakers and their impact on their thinking. I know the task must have been difficult, but thank you to you and your team for persevering.”
The Her Voice, Her Faith Conference was a success because it was God’s conference. The presenters and facilitators were able to draw on their experiences to blend faith and business together in a beautiful way, creating a memorable experience for everyone in the room. There is no doubt Her Voice, Her Faith—which the College of Business intends to host annually—will be a movement that offers a place for women in the marketplace to be refreshed and filled with hope in their work and personal lives.